Dealing with psychologically conspicuous threats
The conference was organized by the Zurich Canton Police, the University of Zurich, the Psychiatric University Clinic and the Public Prosecutor’s Office. It took place with numerous speakers in Dübendorf at the beginning of November. Professionals from all over Switzerland ensure that the event was completely booked out.
In presentations, the experts from the Zurich cantonal police showed various aspects of their threat management and police work. Since 2012, there has been a steady increase in police abuses in the context of mental health problems in the canton of Zurich. In 2020, this affected around 14 failures per day. In the current legislature, the government council is also presenting a focus on the risk posed by persons with mental health problems.
In order to be able to counter this danger effectively, interdisciplinary cooperation between authorities and institutions, especially law enforcement and the health sector, is required. Early detection and the associated exchange of information is a key process.
As part of the police intervention, the focus is on the procurement of information, the protection of third parties and the clarification of criminal behavior. if there is no apparent criminal behavior, police and criminal procedural measures in dealing with mentally problematic persons quickly reach their limits. Civil law measures such as welfare accommodation are to be checked by doctors.
Preventive instruments are of great importance in such constellations. In the area of preventive hazard defense, addressing the threat is one of the most important tools. The direct contact with affected persons allows well-founded risk and weak point analyzes and supports the initiation of target-oriented measures in the network of all relevant authorities and institutions. A common, cross-organizational case understanding is necessary for this.
In addition to experts from the organizing institutions, experts from the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, the Office for Prison and Reintegration and the Child and Adult Protection Authority also gave lectures on the subject.